(Richmond, Texas)- The City of Richmond has been named the 2025 Scenic City of the Year by Scenic Texas, a statewide honor that recognizes communities for exceptional standards in visual character, environmental stewardship, and long-range planning. For Richmond, this represents a significant and, in many ways, once-in-a-lifetime distinction that reflects years of coordinated effort to keep the city both beautiful and forward-looking. “This recognition from Scenic Texas is a powerful affirmation of who we are as a community,” said Mayor Rebecca Haas. “Richmond is deeply rooted in its’ traditions, yet we are continuously growing, modernizing, and raising our community standards. Being named Scenic City of the Year shows that we can protect what makes us historic and authentic while thoughtfully shaping our future.”
Scenic Texas highlighted Richmond’s comprehensive approach to visual quality, from its strengthened sign ordinance and billboard controls to its emphasis on high-quality building design and streetscapes. The City has reduced visual clutter along key corridors such as FM 762, U.S. 90A, and IH 69/ US 59 by prohibiting new off-premises billboards, guiding businesses toward monument-style signage, limiting digital displays, and investing in coordinated wayfinding signs that supports both residents and visitors. At the same time, the Unified Development Code and related design standards ensure that new development complements historic areas, protects key viewsheds, and creates walkable, attractive corridors that feel cohesive and people focused.
Environmental stewardship and green infrastructure have also played a central role in Richmond’s recognition. The City enforces a robust tree preservation ordinance, maintains an extensive tree canopy, and integrates native and low-water-use landscaping into parks, medians, trail corridors, and public facilities. Green infrastructure features such as bioswales, vegetated detention basins, and rain gardens are used to manage stormwater in ways that are both functional and visually appealing. These initiatives are reinforced by the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Trail Master Plan, which tie scenic preservation directly to park expansion, trail connectivity, and the protection of natural corridors such as the Brazos River. “Our policies help keep the quality of our parks, the character of our Historic District, and provide the experience people have when they drive, walk, or visit Richmond,” said Terri Vela, City Manager. “From underground utilities and dark-sky lighting to thoughtful landscaping and design standards, we have made a sustained commitment to visual quality.”
Community engagement has been another key factor in the City’s success. Programs led by Keep Richmond Beautiful, partnerships with schools and youth sports leagues, citywide recycling and sustainability events, and educational initiatives such as informative trail signage and conservation-focused programming all invite residents to participate in keeping Richmond clean, green, and scenic. Signature events such as Art in the Bend, the Pecan Harvest Festival, Miracle on Morton Street, and community gatherings in downtown parks highlight how well-maintained public spaces, historic charm, and thoughtful design support a vibrant civic life.
In addition to this new honor, Richmond recently achieved Platinum Scenic City re-certification from Scenic Texas through 2029, the highest level available in the program. Together, the Scenic City of the Year award and Platinum status underscore Richmond’s role as a statewide leader in scenic preservation, environmental stewardship, and high standards for the public realm.
Throughout 2025 and beyond, the City will incorporate the Scenic City of the Year designation into its communications and community outreach, encouraging residents, businesses, and visitors to “help keep Richmond scenic” by supporting ongoing beautification, conservation, and corridor improvement efforts.
For more information about the City of Richmond’s scenic initiatives, planning efforts, and community programs, please visit richmondtx.gov.
